Horizontal illuminating means



Sept. 15, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1930 mm /VENTOR.

' BY W4.)

A TTORNEY Sept. 15, 1931. K. R. CRUMPTON 1,823,728

HORIZONTAL ILPUMINATING MEANS Filed Oct. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

, ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KENNETH R. CRUMPTON, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 KAUFMANN DEPARTMENT STORES, INC., 03' PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA HORIZONTAL ILLUMINATING MEANS Application filed. October 8. 1930. Serial No. 487,254.

This invention refers to improvement-s in means for illumination, particularly of the interior of buildings such as stores, and is of the type generally known as concealed lighting.

The object in view is to so arrange the illuminating elements in series of horizontal sections for transmission of the light through transparent or translucent covering material. The lighting elements are pref erably arranged within and behind cornice members of the architecture whereby certain areas defined by ceiling panels are surrounded for the purpose of eifecting illumination of the lower main spaces or areas.

The invention is capable of various arrangements and modifications as to design and incorporation with either preexisting or specially designed architectural embodiments. in the manner above suggested, and in connection with series of supporting beams and columns or pillars, with which the horizontal cornice features make corner junction, and also with supplemental vertically arranged downwardly extending illuminating units, as shown.

The present invention however is limited to the horizontal cornice construction and embodiment.

In the drawings showing one preferred utilization of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a store interior showing the general arrangement of the illuminating cornice feature;

Fig. 2 is a. cross sectional View enlarged on the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inner detail view on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the manner of elevating one of the covering panels for longitudinal movement of others.

Referring to Fig. 1, 2 represents a main ceiling area of a circumscribed rectangle within surrounding downwardly projecting cross beams 3 extending at right angles from the tops of supporting posts or columns 4. These columns are preferably substantially rectangular in cross section, or of other do sign conformable with the style of architec- The construction here illustrated isture employed in connection with the associated beams, and with particular reference to the incorporation along the angular or cornice edges of each, of the illuminating elements.

The beams 3 depend below the ceiling surface 2 more or less, providing for the interposition between the columns, of the series of rows of glass panels 6 at one or both sides of each beam, enclosing and covering the main corresponding longitudinal illuminating cavities 7. The glass panels 6 are in comparatively short sections, of any suit le contour in cross section, as shown in igs. 2 and 4, whereby to produce an attractive cornice design, while at the same time to allow for'transmission of light rays and suifusion thereof downwardly over the interior space.

In providing for the conditions necessary to successful illumination throughout the length of each cornice cavity, it is necessary to utilize a series of individual lamps 8 mounted for removal and renewal on a supporting back 9.

Such back is conveniently made of sheet metal along the upper corner portion of the complete sheet metal frame 10, which is incorporated with the beam and ceiling structure, in the form of a longitudinal sheet metal box. It is preferably provided with reflecting surfaces 11 of any suitable construction, and the main top and side walls 10 are suitably held, as at 12, between inner and outer flanges 13 and 14; of sheet metal strips, which are secured to the main framing of the beam and ceiling construction, as shown.

For the purpose of providing stable and rigid mounting supports, structural members 15, as angle bars are utilized, through the horizontal flange member of which extends at intervals'the terminals of a series of supporting rods 16, depending from the mam upper floor construction 17, and having terminal heads or.nuts,,as' shown. The 5 At their lower portions members 13 and 14 are bent at right angles providing an upper horizontal flange 19 and a lower similar flange 20, the latter being preferably redoubled upon itself for stiffening. Flanges 19 and20 are spaced apart suiiiciently far to provide for easy interfitting engagement between them of the terminals of the glass panel 6, whereby the panels will rest in a continuous abutting. series throughout the entire length of the cornice.

For the purpose of providing temporary supports for one of the aanels, at either side of a clearance space a, *ig. 3, the flange 14 panel may be pushed upwardly from its supporting engagement between flanges 19 and 20, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, when the whole panel may be then elevated and set in position above the series, resting upon flanges 21, as indicated in Fig. l.

Thereupon one panel after another of the series'of panels may be shifted laterally until an opening is provided opposite the point where it is desirable to remove or replace an individual lamp, after which the several panels may be replaced in the same manner, with final lowering of the individual elevated panel, completing the consistently consecutive series.

The advantages of the invention reside in the ease and rapidity of making a change or changes in the lamp equipment, without danger of breakage of any of the panels, while also providing for entire removal of the panels for cleaning of them or of the interior cavity surfaces. Thus, instead of completely elevating the removable panel 6 it may be lifted upwardly and tilted and then entirely lowered out of position, all of the several panels being removed in the same way if desired, by simply bringing them into register with the clearance space a.

The design of the panels may be changed or varied as desired by the designer of the construction. They may be of smooth or figured surface, or of semi-translucent or frosted glass, or otherwise treated as to surface configuration wlthln a wide range of variation, but all such changes are to be understood as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In ceiling illumination, spaced apart parallel frames at each side of an intervening cavity and a series of lamps therein, mouting means for the several panels in continuous alinement, and means for supporting one of said panels above the series pro- Viding for temporary removal of one panel thereof to permit lateral shifting of the others.

2. In combination with oppositely located longitudinal supporting frames for a series of panels and an intervening longitudinal cavity provided with a series of lamps, supporting'flanges for the panels, and supplemental supporting flanges at a higher level providing for temporary lifting and support of one of said panels.

3. In combination with oppositely located longitudinal supporting frames at diflerent levels for a series of panels and an intervening longitudinal cavity and lamps therein, supporting grooves for the panel edges at opposite sides of the cavity, the groove at one side consisting of continuous lower and non-continuous upper flanges, and a supplemental uppermost supporting flange for temporary support of one of said panels in position out of register with the series.

l. In ceiling illumination, spaced-apart pairs of parallel supporting flanges at each side of a lamp-containing cavity, lighting and reflecting elements located inwardly between said pairs of flanges, a continuous series of edg6-abutting panel units resting on he lower flan es of each pair, and a temporary supporting flange at each side of the cavity above said pairs of supporting flanges and at one side of a clearance open ing in the upper flange of one of said pairs of flanges for temporary removal and mount ing of a panel unit above the normal location of the other panel units.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

KENNETH R. CRUMPTON. 

